Understanding God's Nature: Beyond Time, Space, and Matter

Devotional

Day 1: God Exists Outside of Time, Space, and Matter

The nature of God is fundamentally different from anything within creation; He is not bound by the limitations of time, space, or matter. All of these—time, space, and matter—came into existence together, forming a continuum that God Himself created and stands apart from. This means that God is not subject to the constraints that govern the universe, and any attempt to confine Him within these boundaries is to misunderstand His true nature. [01:50]

Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Reflection: In what ways have you tried to fit God into your own limited understanding or expectations, and how might recognizing His transcendence change the way you approach Him in prayer today?

Day 2: The Trinity Reflected in Creation

Creation itself bears the mark of God’s triune nature, as seen in the threefold aspects of time (past, present, future), space (length, width, height), and matter (solid, liquid, gas). This “trinity of trinities” points to the complexity and intentionality of the Creator, reminding us that the world is not random but purposefully designed to reflect the One who made it. [01:50]

Romans 1:20 (ESV)
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Reflection: As you observe the world around you today, what aspects of creation remind you of God’s nature, and how can you let those reminders draw you into deeper worship?

Day 3: God Is Not Limited by Human Reason

If God could be fully comprehended by the human mind, He would not be worthy of worship. The infinite cannot be contained within the finite, and our inability to grasp all of God’s mysteries is a sign of His greatness, not a flaw in our faith. This humbling truth invites us to trust in God’s wisdom beyond our own understanding. [03:10]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God because you don’t fully understand His ways, and how can you surrender that uncertainty to Him today?

Day 4: The Creator Is Distinct from His Creation

Just as a computer’s designer is not inside the computer, God is not contained within the universe He made. He is above, beyond, and yet present throughout creation, unaffected by its limitations. This distinction assures us that God is sovereign and able to intervene in our lives without being constrained by the world’s boundaries. [02:40]

Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV)
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Reflection: How does knowing that God is both beyond and present in creation give you confidence in His ability to care for you today?

Day 5: The Reliability of Reason and Faith

If our minds were merely the product of random chemical processes, we could not trust our own reasoning or beliefs. The existence of rationality, emotions, and love points to a Creator who designed us with purpose and meaning, inviting us to trust both our faith and our God-given ability to seek truth. [03:00]

Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV)
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Reflection: In what ways can you honor God today by using your mind, emotions, and relationships as gifts that reflect His intentional design?

Sermon Summary

When considering the question, “Where did God come from?”, it’s important to recognize that this question assumes God is subject to the same limitations as the universe—namely, time, space, and matter. However, the God revealed in Scripture is not bound by these constraints. Time, space, and matter form a continuum; none can exist independently, and all came into being simultaneously. The opening verse of Genesis encapsulates this profound truth: “In the beginning” (time), “God created the heavens” (space), “and the earth” (matter). This trinity of trinities—time as past, present, future; space as length, width, height; matter as solid, liquid, gas—was created in an instant by a God who exists outside of them.

God is not contained within the universe He made, just as a computer’s creator is not trapped inside the computer. He is above, beyond, and yet present within His creation, but never limited by it. To ask where God came from is to misunderstand His nature; He is eternal, uncreated, and independent of the very dimensions He brought into existence.

Furthermore, the idea that a spiritual force cannot affect the material world is challenged by our own experiences. Emotions, love, hatred, envy, and rationality are not material, yet they profoundly impact our physical lives. If our minds were merely the product of random chemical processes, how could we trust our reasoning or the thoughts we think? The God who made us is not a product of the universe but its source, and His existence is not something that can be fully grasped by our finite understanding. If we could fully comprehend God with our limited minds, He would not be worthy of worship. The God we serve is infinite, transcendent, and yet intimately involved with His creation.

Key Takeaways

1. God Exists Outside of Time, Space, and Matter God is not subject to the limitations of the universe. He created time, space, and matter as a unified continuum, and therefore must exist outside of them. This means God is eternal and uncreated, fundamentally different from everything else that exists. [01:50]
2. The Universe Reflects God’s Triune Nature The structure of the universe—time (past, present, future), space (length, width, height), and matter (solid, liquid, gas)—mirrors a trinity of trinities, all created in a single act. This design points to the wisdom and intentionality of the Creator, who weaves complexity and unity into the fabric of reality. [01:50]
3. God’s Transcendence and Immanence God is not contained within His creation, just as a computer’s designer is not inside the computer. Yet, He is present, sustaining and interacting with the universe without being limited by it. This truth invites us to worship a God who is both infinitely beyond us and intimately near. [02:30]
4. Spiritual Realities Impact the Material World The claim that spiritual forces cannot affect material bodies is contradicted by our daily experiences of emotions, love, and rational thought. These immaterial realities shape our lives in tangible ways, pointing to a deeper spiritual dimension that undergirds physical existence. [03:00]
5. The Mystery and Majesty of God If God could be fully comprehended by our finite minds, He would not be worthy of worship. The very fact that God transcends our understanding is a reason for awe and humility, reminding us that faith involves trusting in the One who is greater than our capacity to grasp.

** [04:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - The Question: Where Did God Come From?
[00:40] - Understanding the Nature of God
[01:10] - The Continuum of Time, Space, and Matter
[01:50] - The Trinity of Trinities in Creation
[02:20] - God Outside of His Creation
[02:45] - The Computer Analogy
[03:00] - Spiritual Forces and Material Reality
[03:30] - The Reliability of Reason
[04:00] - The Limits of Human Understanding
[04:20] - Worshiping the Infinite God
[04:40] - Closing Thoughts

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:1 — "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

- Psalm 90:2
"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

- John 1:1-3
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

Observation Questions

According to Genesis 1:1, what three things did God create "in the beginning"?
In the sermon, what is meant by the phrase "trinity of trinities" when describing time, space, and matter? [01:50]
How does the sermon use the analogy of a computer and its creator to explain God’s relationship to the universe? [02:45]
What examples does the sermon give to show that spiritual realities can affect the material world? [03:00]

Interpretation Questions

Why does the sermon argue that God must exist outside of time, space, and matter? What difference does this make in how we understand who God is? [01:50]
The sermon says that if God could be fully understood by our minds, He would not be worthy of worship. What does this suggest about the nature of faith and worship? [04:00]
How does the idea that spiritual realities (like love or rational thought) impact the physical world challenge a purely materialistic view of life? [03:00]
What does it mean for God to be both "transcendent" (beyond creation) and "immanent" (present within creation)? How do these truths shape our relationship with Him? [02:30]

Application Questions

The sermon says that God is not limited by time, space, or matter. How does this truth affect the way you pray or approach God in your daily life? [01:50]
When you think about God being both beyond the universe and yet present with us, does that change how you see your own problems or struggles? How so? [02:30]
The analogy of the computer and its creator was used to show that God is not trapped inside His creation. Are there ways you have unintentionally "shrunk" God in your mind or limited what you believe He can do? [02:45]
The sermon points out that emotions, love, and rational thought are spiritual realities that affect our physical lives. Can you think of a recent time when something immaterial (like love or a conviction) changed your actions or decisions? [03:00]
If God is truly infinite and beyond our full understanding, how do you respond when you have questions about Him that you can’t answer? Do you struggle with doubt, or does it lead you to worship? [04:00]
The sermon challenges the idea that we can fully comprehend God. How can you cultivate more humility and awe in your relationship with God this week? [04:00]
The message says that if our minds were just random chemical reactions, we couldn’t trust our reasoning. How does believing you are created by God give you confidence in your ability to seek truth and make wise choices? [03:00]

Sermon Clips

Your question, where did God come from, assumes that you're thinking of the wrong, obviously it displays that you're thinking of the wrong God because the God of the Bible is not affected by time, space, or matter. If he's affected by time, space, or matter, he's not God. [00:01:25]

Time, space, and matter is what we call a continuum. All of them have to come into existence at the same instant. Because if there were matter but no space, where would you put it? [00:01:39]

If there were matter and space but no time, when would you put it. You cannot have time, space, or matter independently. They have to come into existence simultaneously. [00:01:48]

The Bible answers that in ten words. In the beginning, there's time, God created the heaven, there's space, and the earth, there's matter. [00:01:57]

So you have time, space, matter created, a trinity of trinities there, just, you know, time is past, present, future. Space has length, width, height. Matter has solid, liquid, gas. [00:02:06]

You have a trinity of trinities created instantaneously, and the God who created them has to be outside of them. If He's limited by time, He's not God. [00:02:14]

The God who created this computer is not in the computer. He's not running around in there changing the numbers on the screen, okay? The God who created this universe is outside of the universe. [00:02:22]

He's above it, beyond it, in it, through it. He's unaffected by it. [00:02:31]

And the concept that a spiritual force cannot have any effect on a material body, well then I guess you'd have to explain to me things like emotions and love and hatred and envy and jealousy and rationality. [00:02:36]

I mean if your brain is just a random collection of chemicals that form by chance over billions of years. Here's how on earth can you trust your own reasoning processes and the thoughts that you think, okay? [00:02:49]

So, your question, where did God come from, is assuming a limited God, and that's your problem. The God that I worship is not limited by time, space, or matter. [00:02:58]

If I could fit the infinite God in my three -pound brain, he would not be worth worshiping, That's for certain. [00:03:12]

So that's the God that I worship. Thank you. [00:03:17]

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